The City of Whitehorse has tabled an operating budget for the coming year that promises spending on emergency preparedness, traffic planning and reconciliation. It also spells an increase of $116 on the annual tax bill of the average city household.
The budget was unveiled at the city’s Jan. 29 council meeting, with Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu presenting it as deputy mayor in the absence of Mayor Laura Cabott. The total value of the proposed operating budget is more than $110 million — a 4.28 per cent increase.
There is also a five per cent increase proposed for the water and sewer rate. The solid waste service fee is set for a four per cent rise.
“This is a challenging budget and it is not lost on us the impacts this will have on residents. Affordability is a top concern for so many. The increasing costs of goods means money is tight, for us and for you, which is why we are doing everything we can to manage costs.”
While recognizing the impact of the increases, Curteanu’s budget address compared Whitehorse’s tax rate favourably to those in other communities — a 6.6 per cent proposed increase in Edmonton, 7.2 per cent in Yellowknife and 10.5 per cent in Toronto.
“Under our proposed budget, our proposed rate increase is among the lowest in the country to date, but when we ask residents to pay more, we also need to look internally to ensure the financial decisions we are making are sustainable for future generations,” Curteanu said.
“Which is why we are refocusing on our key municipal responsibilities and going back to the basics.”
Citing the natural disasters that have threatened communities and inhibited transportation in the Yukon and elsewhere in recent years, Curteanu said the proposed operating budget provides for the hiring of an emergency management coordinator who will ensure that the city’s emergency response capabilities keep up with its growth and its isolated northern location.
Other proposed hiring includes a trainee utility stations operator, an engineering technologist who will focus on traffic and active transportation routes and three more firefighters.
The budget proposes the hiring of a reconciliation specialist, whose role will be to ensure the city works with First Nations governments in a meaningful way.
Curteanu’s speech noted prices and supply chains for important consumables like tires, fuel and spare parts. As equipment that city staff are able to service now ages, the budget address noted that future investments will be required.
City residents will now be able to view the draft budget, which also includes tentative plans for spending in 2025 and 2026, on the city’s website. There will be an in-person public input session on the budget held during the regular council meeting on Feb. 12. Feedback can also be sent by email to budgetpublicinput@whitehorse.ca.
The bylaw adopting the budget was given first reading at the Jan. 29 meeting. Council will consider second and third reading of the bylaw on Feb. 26 after receiving a report on the public input on Feb. 19.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com